Gorleston churches shine at Christmas lights evening

Gorleston churches worked together to provide a Nativity scene for the annual Christmas Lights event. Tony Mallion reports.

For the first time, a Nativity scene made an appearance at the Gorleston High Street Christmas lights switch-on fair. It was organised by St Andrew's Parish Church whose administrator, Sally McBride, had the idea of creating a cut out nativity scene which would allow youngsters to dress up as shepherds or Wise Men and have selfie pictures taken.

Cliff Park Community Church and the Gorleston-based Identity Youth Project were invited to team up with St Andrew's for the event. Homemade star biscuits, colouring books, and invitations were handed out with information about Christmas services and the ID youth project.

Sally thanked all who had helped, prayed and visited adding “It was a bustling event and young families, adults, and even dogs took part. We gave out over 300 information packs along with balloons, pencils, nativity sticker sheets and colouring in sheets, Christmas stickers, books and star biscuits. By all being involved; helpers from St Andrew's, Cliff Park, and Identity, we were able to achieve our objective of getting the CHRISTmas message out to the High Street, so alongside Paw Patrol and Santa, the Nativity did get a look in.”

Popular characters Buzz Lightyear and Woody Bear also had their pictures taken at the stall. They were appearing at the highly successful annual event, which rounded off with the High Street Christmas tree and lights being switched on before a massive firework display from the roof of Fusion hairdressing salon.